AJAYI: Change agent in ICT

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When the evolution of the worldwide web (www) embedded in the world of Internet began to emerge and attract public interest in the early 90s, especially in a developing country like Nigeria, Lanre Ajayi, had already started making names in the world of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Although a staff of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) at that time, Ajayi was in the team selected to develop a Nigerian digital communication system as far back as 1992 at the Massachussette Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States of America (USA) while he was undergoing his post gradute programme at home.

Currently presiding over PiNet Informatics as the Managing Director cum Chief Executive, since its establishment 11 years ago, Mr. Ajayi came up with a number of designs while working in NITEL’s Research and Develoment Department, which were patented by the company and on the strength of which he won several awards both locally and internationally.

He is also President, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) just as he is a long standing advocate of Internet evolution, which ignited his desire to conceive the idea of forming the group to further educate and facilitate the Internet penetration and education in Nigeria.

He proposed the formation of the NIG in 1995, thus becoming a co-founder and in December 2005, barely 10 years later, he became the president.

He had served as the vice president, NIG since 2003, after also serving as the vice president, Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN) between 2002 and 2004.

The PiNet chief while representing ISPAN at the continental level- the African Internet Service Providers Association (AfrISPA) he also emerged the vice chairman of the group where he is currently sitting on the board as well as that of ISPAN.

Ajayi represented Nigeria at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) at the National Information and Communication Infrastructure (NICI) meetings, which brought the essence of ICT implementation agency to the forefront and which eventually led to the establishment of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in the country in 2001.

Having obtained both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees, in Electrical Engineering at the University of Lagos, (UNILAG), he worked for NITEL for 11 years before establishing PiNET Informatics, which is one of the first Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Nigeria.

A member of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr. Ajayi also belonged to a number of other professional groups such as the Internet Society (ISOC) and a fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS).

Being one of the earliest ISPs on the African continent, and having the foresight, PiNet Informations, pride itself, with a number of innovative offerings in order to boost the usage and acceptability of Internet across all levels of the society.

Some of these include the offer of regular dial-up pay-as-you-use Internet service branded as LogOn, the HostDirect which enables individuals and corporate organizations to implement adequately what is known as complex Internet projects which addressed the users’ specific needs in the areas and deployment of Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network, DomainDirect (DD), training and consultancy.

PiNet has expanded to focus beyond Internet solutions to include providing access to a large customer base and through Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) implementations under the firm’s BroadbandDirect scheme.

Renowned for outstanding technical support provided by highly professional and courteous personnel, Ajayi’s PiNet has remained focused on its target of delivering optimal Internet services to Nigerians.

An advocate of cheap and affordable bandwidth on the continent, Mr. Ajayi spends most of his time designing services that would be favourable to the Nigerian economy for people of all stages in the society.

He was elected to lead NIG early in December 2005, and since then has been an outspoken professional, especially on issues of ICT and Internet in particular.

Mr. Ajayi, whose presence at most international ICT events on the continent is sought has as his latest passion, the drive to ensure that Nigeria Internet Exchange (NIX), begins especially now that the presidency has developed the interest and even come to understand its importance.

NB:icon also published in Daily Champion